Here’s a pro-tip: find time for a run or two during your Sydney stay. It really helps get a better sense of the surrounding areas as well as spot things to explore at a slower pace. The mileage you cover on a run is much greater than what a three year old can walk, so look at it as scouting mission for good nibbles and tactical playgroups.
Speaking of playgroups, Sydney has invested epic dollars in building out common areas. Check out the Darling Quarter - a slick communal space with coffee shops, slides, green spaces, as well as a water duct framework that lets kids reroute water flow, etc.
Ashton got a bit too excited about the former and managed to take a proper dive into one of the channels while yours truly was fiddling with the camera. We quickly identified a small convenience store just across the playground that sold spare clothes… props to the opportunist store owner, must be a regular occurrence. 😂
While Ashton bothered the locals at the playground we hung out on a bench watching people dressed in business attire head to work. Things felt… less rushed in Sydney. Come to think of it - everywhere in Australia. Running through the parks and streets of Sydney I had the sensation that the quality of life was really high - clean, beautiful streets, well designed communal areas, plentiful green spaces, and the never ending coastline with it’s beaches make the city really special. Since the cost of living is really high in Sydney, It’s hard for me to asses how accessible all of this is to the locals…